Pastor's Perspective - Next Tuesday

Last Wednesday I restarted my weekly morning adult Bible study called ‘The Pie Club’. Our group of about 12 have begun an exciting expedition through the book of Acts.

Last week I shared the pertinent introduction stuff – author, place, recipients, themes, unique characteristics, etc. We got to Luke’s amazing account of Christ’s glorious and promised ascension before our time together ran out. The angels in the scene remind Jesus’ team that He will come back someday in the same fashion. So, we began to talk about some of those dynamics –personally, physically, suddenly, and the like. Then our group matriarch, Margaret Rickard, posed a question I’m posing to you today as a reader – “What if we knew Jesus was coming back next Tuesday. What would we do?’

The room fell awkwardly silent. I then asked each attendee what they would do, knowing that each believed that Jesus was coming back and that He would come back suddenly. The answers varied, some with tears; but there was a commonality that was unmistakable – “I would do whatever I had to to get my loved ones saved.”

What would you do if you knew Jesus was coming back next Tuesday?

Pastor's Perspective - Where Were You?

I remember the morning vividly. It was just another Tuesday morning, or so I thought. I had a jam-packed ‘To Do’ list of things to accomplish at church that day. As I got ready, I flipped on the television in my bedroom to catch a few headlines before racing off. What I saw instead was horrifying; a live national nightmare. Both of the tallest towers of the World Trade Center complex were ripped open with the unmistakable black smoke of burning jet fuel billowing above them, dissipating in the wind. Stunned, I remember reaching for my cell phone and calling my secretary at the church office and saying, “Gena, lock-up the church and go home. The world just changed.”

Since that horrible day, Michelle and I have visited the WTC site twice. ‘Surreal’ is the only word I can find to describe our time there. During our second visit we took our children. Interesting enough, as buildings and fields burned in New York, Washington D.C. and Pennsylvania, our youngest Lily was coming into the world.

Just a year before the attack, Michelle and a girlfriend had visited a childhood friend who worked as a broker for Cantor Fitzgerald at the very top of Tower 1. By fate, he relocated with another company to another city in the interim. Through sobs he shared with Michelle on the phone that evening, “They’re all gone. Everybody I worked with and introduced you to – gone.”

Where were you?

Pastor's Perspective - FOR MEN ONLY

In a church culture permeated by white-washed messages, high in motivation and self-discovery and low on Jesus, I found this following message refreshing, convicting and challenging.

I believe every man on the planet needs to take just one hour of his life and watch this sermon by Pastor Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church in Seattle. It's a clarion call for real men to be real men - to step-up and model authentic masculinity Jesus-style.

http://www.marshillchurch.org/media/trial/marriage-and-men

Pastor's Perspective - Just As Much Today

I love my congregation just as much today as the day we rolled into town.

Earlier this month, my family and I celebrated our 5-year anniversary in the community and at First Christian! Being a sentimentalist at heart, I stopped to reflect on our arrival in late July 2004.

I’ll never forget the phone call we received that Sunday evening. The church had flown Michelle and I out for an intensive interview weekend. After being bumped around the country by our air carrier, we arrived at the Sacramento Airport weary and a bit slap-happy from a marathon day. There to meet us with his signature grin, holding a sign that read ‘KIEFER’, was Steve Strem! He drove us to our hotel then to the church where a group was waiting eagerly to feed us and ask us a wide spectrum of questions. Throughout the weekend we met in people’s homes and continued to eat and answer questions. That Sunday morning I preached twice in a new outfit Michelle had bought me. Afterward we went back to our hotel and literally crashed! That night the church met to vote on us, while we continued to recover in our room in Fairfield. The phone rang and Steve Strem asked if I would accept their invitation to come and be their pastor. When I answered “Yes”, my heart jumped for joy, as a deafening cheer rose up on the other end of the line. Unknown to me, I was on a speaker phone with the entire congregation listening in! Many of us met for pizza afterwards to celebrate. What a beautiful unforgettable memory.

The 7-day drive out here from central Florida was another unforgettable memory. On the sixth day as we were entering the Mojave Desert, our air conditioning went out in our minivan, while I drove ahead in our big rental truck. Through God’s kindness we were able to get to Bakersfield for the evening. By that time in the trip we were exhausted, hot, frustrated and bit over it all. I remember my call to Mike Kleeman. Though I didn’t really know Mike, I knew he was an Elder and that he probably needed to know where and what his new pastor and his family were and were doing. After explaining our air conditioning challenge, I’ll never forget Mike’s words – “Sit tight. We’ll come get you.” So, the Kleeman family and the Lum family left at 3AM to get to us in Bakersfield by breakfast-time at 8! Talk about a wonderful memory and first impression of the selfless love found at FCC.

Later that evening our arrival in our new community was more of a hobble than a triumphant entry! Here we were, already leaning on our new church family, riding in among a caravan of mismatched vehicles. There to eagerly meet us and welcome us, at the house we had never seen before, ready to unload our packed Penske moving truck was the entire church!

Friends, that deep love and open-armed hospitality was here at FCC long before anybody heard of the Kiefer family. And I can say today, with fullest confidence, still exists for anyone who is looking for a real place to belong.

I love my congregation just as much today as the day we rolled into town.

Pastor's Perspective - A Greater Freedom

"My job was to do one thing, which I was honored to do, as an American and as a father," ... "I wanted those young women to be able to come home.” – Former President Bill Clinton

Earlier this week as I was preparing for the day, I watched the live coverage of the homecoming of journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee, two Americans captured, tried, and sentenced by the North Korean government. For 140-days they became unlikely pawns in an international propaganda war between our country and one bent on rogue behavior. As the door of their shimmering jetliner opened, both women quickly descended the stairs into the open arms of their elated families. Talk about a feel good scene. Don’t we all just love happy endings?

After many tears and hugs, former president Bill Clinton regally walked down the jet stairs. In a 20-hour whirlwind trip, he had met with the North Koreans and brokered the journalists’ release – the hero of their freedom. During her brief emotion-filled statement, Laura Ling spoke of their shock and joy at going from a state of despair and hopelessness into a meeting attended by the former Commander and Chief. According to Ling, the minute she saw and met him, she knew that everything would be okay.

Again, we as Americans love happy endings. In a cinematic-saturated culture, we like it when the bad guy gets his, the Death Star and the great white shark explodes, and the good guy gets the pretty girl, riding away in a convertible while Joe Cocker belts out the chorus. We absolutely dig it! I dig it, and dug it earlier this week. As image-bearers of God, some things actually survived the Fall, namely our sense of justice and resolution.

As I enjoyed the scene being played-out in a Burbank airliner hanger, I was soberly reminded of the greatest rescue ever recorded. Think about it.

At one time, every member of the human family was held justifiably captive, by our own rebellious nature. Each one of us lived in a state of perpetual despair and hopelessness, powerless to liberate ourselves from the iron bars our sins warranted. Unlike Ling and Lee, we were absolutely guilty of treason and mutiny against a holy God. Then, just when we thought all was lost, someone left the peace and splendor of his home faraway and perfectly brokered our release – sinlessness for sin – righteousness for unrighteousness.

Wouldn’t it have been the epitome of foolishness, for Ling and Lee, after seeing and meeting Clinton to say, “No, we’re fine where we’re at. Thanks any way. We’re cool”? Instead, they were overjoyed and overwhelmed that their rescuer would come from so far away, such a powerful individual whom they had never met.

Through the person of Jesus Christ, the hero of our freedom, God the Father has liberated us.

Why?

Because as a father, He wanted us to be able to come home.

Pastor's Perspective - Kids and Church

Some kids will do anything to get out of church!

I confess that last night I had a bit of a chuckle after reading an online news story – after the fact of course. Apparently a 7-year-old boy in Utah led the police on a car chase, all in an effort to avoid going to church! After witnesses saw a child driving a Dodge Intrepid, they called the authorities who followed him at speeds up to 40 mph. Finally the boy stopped in a driveway and ran inside a home. According to the Associated Press, when the boy’s father confronted him later about his reckless behavior, the boy explained that he simply didn’t want to go to church that morning.

Several years ago back in Florida I preached a message called, ‘Dying to Get Out of Church’. The Bible text I used was the account of the Apostle Paul raising a kid named Eutychus back to life (Acts 20:7-12). Apparently the time-pressed apostle was doing a ‘Smokey & the Bandit’ message – a long way to go and a short time to get there! A young man named Eutychus was becoming groggier and groggier as he sat in the window listening. Finally he couldn’t fight slumber any longer and fell from the 3-story ledge to his death. Paul, not missing a beat, simply paused his message, marched downstairs, threw himself on the child and through God’s miraculous power, raised the boy back to life! This dramatic event proved to have little effect, as Paul just continued preaching until sunrise.

Some kids will do anything to get out of church!

I’m always saddened when someone tells me that their kids don’t like coming to church. This statement usually tells me that the child is not being intentionally and creatively reached, has made few friends, or is seeing hypocrisy or lack of ‘church’ zeal in his parents. Gratefully, I rarely if ever hear that! I’m so very blessed to pastor a congregation that makes student and children’s ministry a high priority. Where some might only pacify and warehouse kids while their parents get all the focus and creative attention, FCC is not one of those places. We value the wonderful opportunity God has given us to introduce young people to Christ at the level they can comprehend and engage Him. From our loving Nursery Ministry, to Kingdom Kids, to Awana, to Impact Student Ministries, all are fun and creative avenues led by highly dedicated leaders and volunteers trying to make positive first impressions. Our goal is for each child to know that they are unconditionally loved by their Creator, that following Jesus Christ daily is key, that the Bible is their reliable life-long guide, and that each tender life has a God-sized plan accompanying it.

So, my challenge to you is to bring your young ones to church regularly, support specialized children’s and youth ministry, volunteer selflessly, and thank those who labor with your child’s salvation and spiritual maturity at heart.

My guarantee is, your child won’t fall asleep, and, you won’t have to hide your car keys!

Drama Camp Talent Show – Friday, July 31 at 6PM
Vacation Bible School – Monday, August 3rd thru Friday, August 7th – nightly
Awana Club – Continuing September 2009
Kingdom Kids – Every Sunday morning during both services (9 & 11AM)
Impact Student Ministries – Every Wednesday (Sr High) & Thursday (Jr High) and every Sunday morning

Pastor's Perspective - Just One Promise

Fifteen years ago God called me into the full-time ministry.

For the first thirty years of my existence, I had no idea what the Lord wanted me to do with my life; but the summer of 1994 He made it abundantly clear. I remember the first few days after the calling. I was filled with relief and excitement yes, but also with some fear and anxiety.

For the hundreds who have heard my testimony over the years, I share that Michelle and I were newlyweds, only six months married. We had just bought our little “dream house”, had good jobs, lived close to family and friends, were extremely active in our home church, and were excited to start a family. Then one day, like any other day, God made an unanticipated, strong and sudden impression in me that set me on this white-knuckle ride of faith.

As mentioned, there were many fears and anxieties initially, like telling and leaving our family and friends (ie. ‘going public’), quitting our jobs, selling our house, college tuition and living expenses, and the toll this new chapter would have on a brand-new marriage.

One day while reading my Bible, I read something Jesus shared - a promise - “And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life” (Matthew 19:29). I remember being seized by that verse, unable to read on. Following God’s voice for us meant giving up ever single one of those things! Taking my open Bible to Michelle, I read it to her and said, “We either believe what Jesus promised here or we don’t. And if we don’t, we shouldn’t go into the full-time ministry.” My beautiful bride shook her head in agreement, and our adventure of releasing and expecting began.

I share this with you my readers, not to paint myself as some spiritual superhero. I am far from that. Though I’m a pastor, I’m a man who faces challenges and struggles like everyone else. The reason I shared a chapter of my story with you is because of something I have tested repeatedly and have found to be true - Jesus never fails! He made good on every single one of those things we surrendered to follow Him. By far the hardest part was parting with our family. Listen, the family we said goodbye to venturing into the unknown, God over the years has multiplied a hundred-fold all around the planet! How about that dream house we put on the market? God has literally given us houses and other supernatural housing opportunities since saying “yes” to Him! Everything we put in His hand, came back – multiplied and way better than anything we initially gave Him.

So what am I saying?

Friends, Matthew 19:29 is just one small verse of promise in the Bible, among thousands of such promises! Take it from me, His Word is strong and reliable. You can trust Him. He will not and cannot let you fall. Jesus never fails!

So when it comes to life, the choice is ultimately ours, ‘Will we stand on the promises, or sit on the premises?’ One is boring and fruitless, but the other is an adventure of a lifetime!